PIC16C57-RCE/SO - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU 3KB EPROM | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57-RCE/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.1 | $7.10 |
| 10 | $6.45 | $64.50 |
| 100 | $5.75 | $575.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.55 | $4,550.00 |
PIC16C57-RCE/SO Overview
What is an OTP microcontroller? An OTP (One-Time-Programmable) microcontroller is a type of embedded processor whose program memory can be written only once after manufacture, after which the program becomes permanent. OTP parts sit in the broader hierarchy of microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor device -> integrated circuit. They are favored over flash-based MCUs for cost-sensitive, high-volume applications where firmware is finalized before production and field re-programmability is not required.
Key features of the PIC16C57-RCE/SO include a RISC instruction set with only 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions, 12-bit-wide opcodes delivering 2:1 code compression over competing 8-bit architectures, two 8-bit timer/counters, a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, power-on reset, and a 4 MHz internal/external clock domain. The wide operating voltage range of 3.0 V to 6.0 V and ultra-low power consumption make it well-suited for both battery-powered and line-powered systems.
The PIC16C57 employs a Harvard-class pipelined architecture, where program and data buses are physically separate, allowing instruction fetch and execute to overlap each machine cycle. This is the architectural foundation behind the family's advertised 'order of magnitude higher performance than competitors at the same price' claim, since a 4 MHz clock effectively delivers 4 MIPS of throughput. The 20 digital I/O pins are multiplexed with peripheral functions and are capable of directly sourcing/sinking 25 mA per pin for LED and relay drive.
Typical applications span industrial control, automotive subsystems, consumer appliances, security panels, and any cost-driven embedded product. The 'RCE' temperature grade (-40C to +125C) and SOIC surface-mount form factor specifically target industrial-grade SMT assemblies that must withstand wave-solder reflow and operate across extended thermal ranges. The PIC16C5X family remains one of the most widely cloned and second-sourced 8-bit MCU architectures in the industry.
When designing with this part, remember that OTP memory cannot be erased or rewritten; prototype firmware must be fully debugged before committing to a PIC16C57-RCE/SO production run. Engineers evaluating reprogrammable alternatives should consider the PIC16F57 (flash-based, same pinout) instead. For power-budget calculations, the device typically draws <2 mA active at 4 MHz/5 V and <10 uA in sleep mode.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric specifications, drop-in alternatives within the PIC16C5X family, and practical design notes for OTP MCU selection not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57-RCE/SO — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC16C57-RCE/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Operating Temperature, Oscillator Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C57-RC/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57CT-20I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F57-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C56-RCE/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-RCE/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Series | PIC16C5X |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (PIC) |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable EPROM) |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 20 |
| Number of Timers | 1 x 8-bit |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 6.0 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (extended 'E' grade) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (0.295", 7.50 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Oscillator Type | External RC ('RC' designation) |
| Instruction Set | 33 instructions, 12-bit wide |
| Peripheral Features | POR (Power-On Reset), WDT |
PIC16C57-RCE/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 |
| Pin 6 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 7 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 8 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 9 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 10 | RB5/MCLR — I/O port B bit 5 / Master Clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 11 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 6 |
| Pin 12 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — External RC oscillator input or crystal input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — External RC oscillator or crystal output |
| Pin 15 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 16 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+3.0 V to +6.0 V) |
| Pin 21 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 22 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 23 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 6 |
| Pin 24 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 7 |
| Pin 25 | RD0 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 26 | RD1 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 27 | RD2 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 28 | RD3 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 3 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57-RCE/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control Systems, Automotive Body Electronics, Consumer Appliance Control, Security and Alarm Panels, Smart Sensor Signal Conditioning, Educational and Hobby Electronics, Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes.
Industrial Control Systems
The PIC16C57-RCE/SO is well-suited for industrial control subsystems including PLC I/O expanders, motor control auxiliary logic, and sensor signal conditioning front-ends. The extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range ('E' suffix) and 28-SOIC surface-mount package tolerate harsh factory environments with temperature swings, vibration, and dust. With 20 digital I/O pins each capable of 25 mA source/sink, the device can directly drive relays, solenoids, and LED indicators without external buffers, reducing BOM cost. The 4 MHz CPU speed delivers 4 MIPS, sufficient for closed-loop PID at low rates or simple state-machine sequencing in conveyor, HVAC, and process control applications. The OTP memory locks firmware permanently after programming, preventing field tampering with safety-critical control logic.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Body electronics modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, window lifters, and lighting timers frequently use the PIC16C57-RCE/SO because of its extended temperature range and proven reliability in automotive under-dash environments. The 3 KB OTP program memory accommodates typical body-control state machines (wash/wipe logic, keyless entry timing, headlamp delay-off), while the 72-byte RAM is sufficient for stack and scratchpad needs in interrupt-driven routines. The 4 MHz CPU executes 4 MIPS, well-matched to slow electromechanical actuators. Automotive designs using this part rely on the OTP memory's permanence to meet ASIL-rated software integrity requirements - firmware cannot drift after vehicle delivery. The 28-SOIC package is compatible with standard SMT reflow processes on FR4 PCB substrates.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Cost-sensitive consumer appliances such as washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and rice cookers adopt the PIC16C57-RCE/SO as the main user-interface and timer controller because of its low unit cost (under USD 5 at 1k volume as of 2026-09-17), OTP memory lock-down, and 20 I/O pins sufficient for keypad scanning, LCD segment driving, and buzzer control. The Harvard RISC architecture simplifies coding in PIC assembly language, reducing firmware development cost. The wide 3.0 V to 6.0 V supply range allows direct connection to unregulated 5 V or 6 V wall-adapter outputs without additional regulation. The 4 MHz clock is adequate for user-interface debouncing, RTC emulation, and timed-cooking sequences. The 28-SOIC footprint simplifies PCB layout versus larger DIP alternatives.
Recommended
Security and Alarm Panels
The PIC16C57-RCE/SO serves as the main controller in security alarm panels, PIR motion-detector signal processors, and entry-control keypads where its OTP memory ensures that the firmware cannot be reverse-engineered or modified after deployment. With 20 I/O pins the device can scan up to a 4x4 matrix keypad, drive a status LED array, sound a piezo buzzer, and read multiple zones via internal comparators. The PIC16C5X's RISC instruction set executes each instruction in one cycle, giving responsive keypad debouncing and alarm-event timestamping on a 4 MHz CPU. The extended temperature range allows outdoor enclosure mounting across seasons. Low-power sleep mode (<10 uA) supports battery-backed operation during AC mains failure, a critical feature for UL-listed alarm systems.
Recommended
Smart Sensor Signal Conditioning
In front-end signal conditioning modules for sensors (thermistors, RTDs, strain gauges, optical encoders), the PIC16C57-RCE/SO can digitize analog signals via a slope-converter or comparator chain and apply calibration lookup tables stored in its 3 KB OTP. The 4 MHz clock drives ADC-equivalent conversion rates up to several kHz, sufficient for thermal and pressure sensors. With 20 I/O pins the device can multiplex multiple sensor channels, drive isolation switches, and communicate results via UART or SPI bit-banged in firmware. The wide 3.0-6.0 V supply range accommodates transducer excitation voltages directly. The PIC16C5X's deterministic interrupt latency makes it appropriate for time-multiplexed sensor arrays where channel-to-channel timing must be consistent.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Electronics
The PIC16C57-RCE/SO is a popular educational microcontroller for university embedded-systems courses and maker projects because its 28-SOIC footprint fits standard breakout boards, the 33-instruction RISC set is straightforward to learn in PIC assembly, and the 4 MHz CPU is fast enough for blinking LEDs, PWM motor speed control, UART communications, and I2C bit-banging. OTP memory forces good engineering discipline: students must complete and fully debug their firmware before committing to a programmed part, mirroring real production engineering workflows. The 20 I/O pins provide ample breadboard-friendly signal access. The Microchip MPLAB X IDE is free and supports the PIC16C5X family for assembly development. Hotenda, DigiKey, and Mouser stock the part, making it accessible for coursework.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes
Although the PIC16C57-RCE/SO is not a modern low-power MCU, it remains in use for simple battery-powered wireless sensor nodes where the OTP memory lock-down and extremely low cost outweigh its higher active current (~2 mA at 4 MHz). With sleep mode drawing <10 uA, the part can spend most of its duty cycle asleep, waking periodically to take a sensor reading and transmit via a 433 MHz or sub-GHz radio. The 20 I/O pins can drive a sensor enable FET, read a tamper switch, scan a 4-button user interface, and bit-bang the radio SPI interface. The 3.0-6.0 V supply range allows direct use with 3.6 V lithium-thionyl-chloride primary cells. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range is critical for outdoor sensor deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57-RCE/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C57-RC/SO | PIC16C57CT-20I/SO | PIC16F57-I/SO | PIC16C56-RCE/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3 KB OTP EPROM | 3 KB OTP EPROM | 3 KB OTP EPROM | 2 KB Flash | 2 KB OTP EPROM |
| Max CPU Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C |
| RAM | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash | OTP EPROM |
| Oscillator Type | External RC | External RC | External RC | External RC | External RC |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature (vs PIC16C57-RC/SO)
- External RC oscillator configuration (vs PIC16C57-XT/SO (crystal oscillator variant))
- Larger program memory than PIC16C55/PIC16C56 family members (vs PIC16C56-RCE/SO)
- 28-SOIC surface-mount package for SMT assembly (vs PIC16C57-RCE/P (28-PDIP variant))
Design Notes
OTP EPROM cannot be erased or rewritten once programmed. Always fully debug firmware using a PIC16F57 (flash-based, same pinout) development board before committing to OTP programming of a production run. Estimated: a single 28-SOIC PIC16C57-RCE/SO programmed incorrectly represents a USD 5-7 unit scrap cost that scales linearly across production volume. Use Microchip's MPLAB PM3 or ICD3 with verified programming waveforms to avoid under-programmed cells that may pass verification but fail in-field.
The PIC16C57-RCE/SO draws approximately 2 mA active at 4 MHz/5 V and <10 uA in sleep mode. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor directly between VDD (pin 20) and VSS (pin 19) placed within 5 mm of the package, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail. The MCLR pin (pin 10) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for reliable power-on reset; do not leave it floating. The 'RC' oscillator configuration requires an external R/C network on OSC1 (pin 13) per the datasheet's RC oscillator table - typical values are 10 kohm + 100 pF for ~4 MHz operation.
The 28-SOIC package has a thermal resistance of approximately 80 C/W theta-JA, well within the device's low-power dissipation budget. For SMT reflow, follow JEDEC J-STD-020 profile with peak temperature below 260 C for no more than 30 seconds. The exposed pins on 28-SOIC have a 1.27 mm pitch; use ENIG or OSP surface finish and avoid HASL for fine-pitch reliability. Estimated: copper pour area of 0.5 sq inch or larger under the SOIC body helps dissipate heat and improves power-rail decoupling.
Keep the external RC oscillator components (R and C on OSC1/OSC2, pins 13/14) within 5 mm of the package to minimize stray capacitance that affects frequency accuracy. Route the MCLR reset line away from high-frequency switching signals to avoid spurious resets. For noise-sensitive applications, place a 100 nF ceramic bypass capacitor directly on each port-cluster (RA, RB, RC, RD) supply tap. The PIC16C5X instruction cycle is 4 oscillator clocks, so a 4 MHz oscillator yields a 1 us instruction cycle - critical for tight bit-banged protocol timing on UART/SPI/I2C.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH status not explicitly stated in provided web data; Microchip parts in 28-SOIC generally compliant but marked [DATA_NEEDED]. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (PIC16C5X is not automotive-qualified per Microchip catalog). Conflict minerals compliance per Microchip's standard policy.